Two decades ago, I took a chance on a career in nursing. Back then, I was not entirely convinced that I would make it in this profession because I hadn't thought much about it before entering polytechnic at the age of 17.
However, once I made my decision, I told myself that I would make it no matter what.
Today, I am so glad that I picked the nursing course so many years ago. I have found a purposeful path that makes a difference in the lives of my patients and their families. In my work, I have the privilege of caring for patients from all walks of life, helping them improve and maintain their quality of life, and seeing the bright smiles on their faces every day.
I joined Diaverum in 2019 as Senior Staff Nurse, and was given the opportunity to take on further responsibilities as the Acting Head Nurse shortly after. Of course there was a learning curve, but it was a challenge that I faced head on - holding on to my mantra of doing my best no matter what.
I would describe myself as an introvert by nature, although my job actually requires that I interact with many people on a daily basis. This may sound a little conflicting to most, but the meaningful interactions that I have with my patients and colleagues give me tremendous purpose and I completely forget about being an introvert during those hours that I am at work. In fact, I have made many connections that I cherish – not only with my colleagues, but even my patients as well!
I never would have thought that one day, one of my patients would actually play a part in my own wedding! Early on in my career, I was speaking with my patient about preparations for my wedding, and had shared briefly that I was still looking for a bridal car for the big day. To my surprise, he quickly offered to not only lend us his car for our wedding day, but also be our driver for the day. It was a completely unexpected offer, but really heart-warming moment for my husband and I to have my patient share in this special day with us.
While I find great meaning and joy in my work, I’ve also come to realise that in spite of the best efforts of public and private sector organisations to set up new clinics across the country, there are still many patients in need of accessible, high-quality care. In a country with an ageing population, this will only grow in demand in the coming years and it is my hope that more people will look towards a career in nursing to care for individuals with chronic kidney disease and give these patients a better quality of life.